Rail and flange lubricator



Sept. 29, 1936.. c. A. MILLER RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed Aug. 1l, 1934 2 SheetSf-Shelb l www4/ww Sept. 2,9, 1936. Q A. M|| ER A RAIL AND FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed Aug. l1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention relates to lubricating devices `and has as an object the provision of a device to be supported adjacent the rail of a railroad track to deliver lubricant to the side of the rail or to:

the ange of the wheel or both, for the well known purpose of causing the rails to be less worn by flanges upon curves or at switches or the like.

It is an object of the invention toprovide a self-contained device comprising a lubricant reslo ervoir and a pump mounted upon the reservoir so that the assembly may be installed as a unit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a self-contained unit wherein the pump is mounted upon the exterior of a lubricant reservoir from which it may be readily removed for servicing and with which the pump may be readily assembled in the manufacture of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a self-contained unit of the character described which may be supported solely upon the ties at one side of the rail and which may be very readily adjusted for height to suit different sizes of rails.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described utilizing a novel form of oscillating pump.

It is a further object of the invention to provide `a pump having convenient means to vary the stroke thereof to adjust the amount of lubricant delivered.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a rail in section;

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation similar to a portion of Fig. 1 showing a different position of parts;

Fig. 3 is an end View;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical transverse section of the pump taken` on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a different form of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the form of the invention of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a detail Vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

As shown the device comprises a fuel reservoir I having a pump I I mounted upon the upper surface thereof and retained thereon as by means of cap screws I2.

To support the assembled structure of the pump and reservoir upon the ties of a railway track there are shown brackets I3, I4 secured to the walls olf the reservoir by means of cap screws I5, I6, the vertical portions of the brackets being provided with slots Il through which the cap screws pass and whereby the height of the reser- Voir may be adjusted to suit T-rails of varying 5 heights. The brackets are shown as secured to: the upper surface of the ties by means of lag screws I8. The reservoir is shown as provided with a filling cap I8.

The pump il is shown as comprising a base 2D 10 and an interio-r'ly cylindrical housing 2l. Within the housing there is provided a buslring 22 preserved from revolution in the housing as by means of a key 23, the bushing being cut away as at 23 to provide a pump chamber 25. lating in the bushing 2:2, there isshown a plug 25 having an internal bore 2l and openings 28 passing radially of the plug and opening into the chamber 25.

A non-cylindrical portion 29 of the plug has an opening 33 in communication with the bore 2l, which opening registers with a conduit 3I in the treadle portion 32 which lits upon the noncylindrical portion 29. Said non-cylindrical portion may be polygonal, or splined, or the treadle 2,5 32 may be keyed thereon. To retain the treadle 32 upon theportion 29, there is shown a nut 33 taking upon the screw-threaded portion 34 of the plug, which portion is shown as of a diameter less than that of the portion 29. The free end 30 of the treadle 32 is shown as provided with an arcuate T-head 35 to be contacted by the flange 36 of the wheels of passing railway vehicles.

Carried by the plug 26 is a radially extending blade 31 which is shown as seating in a longi- 35 tudinal groove in the plug 26 placed closely adjacent the openings 28, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The blade 31 may be welded to the plug 26 and serves as a piston acting in the pump chamber 25. To return the blade 37 to the posi- 40 tion shown in Figure 4 after its movement caused by the depression ofthe treadle 32 by the flange of a wheel, there is shown a pin 38 having an abutment 39 and a compression spring 40, the remaining end of which spring abuts against a 45 plug 4I screw-threaded into an opening in the projection 42 and retained in said position by means of a lock nut 43. The plug 4I is shown as provided with a screwdriver slot 44 and it will be seen that upon the loosening of the lock nut, 50 the compression of spring 40 may be adjusted.

To vary the stroke of the pump, there is shown a screw-threaded pin 45 provided with a lock nut 46, which pin projects intothe path of movement of the blade 3l and acts as a stop 55 for the blade against the force exerted by spring 40 thereon.

A ball check valve 41 is shown in the bore 21 acting in an enlarged portion thereof, which check valve is forced to its seat by means of spring 4B abutting against a plug 49 inserted in an interiorly screw-threaded end of the bore 21.

An intake pipe is shown having screwthreaded engagement with the opening 5I in the base 20 and extending to a point close to the bottom of the reservoir, the lower end of the intake pipe being provided with a check Valve at the location 52.

The opening of conduit 3l is so disposed, as shown in Figure 1, that when the treadle 32 is depressed, lubricant will be delivered to the space between the rail head and the flange, preferably being delivered largely upon the side of the head of the rail. As the treadle is depressed, the lubricant outlet will be forced downwardly with respect to the side 0f the rail, thus effectually delivering the lubricant upon the adjacent surface of the rail.

The form of the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive diiers from that already described by the fact that the pump is placed in a position 90 of rotation from the position of the pump in Figure 1, therefore the arc of the circle of movement of the treadle 32 is parallel with the rail instead of perpendicular thereto as shown in Figure 1.

This form of the invention also differs from that first described by the utilization of the spring 53 coiled about the projecting end of the plug 26', having an end anchored to the base 2li', as at 54, and having the remaining end taking under a stud 55 carried by the treadle 32. The end 53 of the spring 40 may seat in a notch in the stud 55 or pass into a perforation therein.

To vary the stroke of this form of the invention, the hub 56 of the treadle 32 carries a projecting finger 51 provided with a screw-threaded opening to receive a stop pin 58 held in place by means of a lock nut 59. The end of the pin 58 bears against the base 20 and by varying its projection from the finger, the stroke of the pump may be conveniently adjusted.

To secure access to the interior of the reservoir in both forms of the invention, there is shown a cover plate 60 held in place by means of cap screws 6l.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

l. A rail and flange lubricator comprising, in combination: a lubricant reservoir of dimensions to be received between adjacent ties of a railroad track and having an upper wall provided with an opening; means to mount said reservoir between such ties with said upper wall substantially flush with the upper surfaces thereof; an oscillating pump mounted upon said upper wall comprising a housing having a central bore and a segmental chamber opening to said bore; a conduit opening into said chamber and projecting through the opening in said upper wall to the bottom of said reservoir and provided with a check valve; a core oscillatable in said bore, having an axial conduit and a passage opening into said chamber and to said axial conduit; a piston blade carried by said core and oscillatable in said chamber; a treadle fixed to said core and having a conduit forming a continuation of said axial conduit, opening at a point to deliver lubricant to a rail head; and resilient means to urge said treadle, core and piston toward normal position.

2. A rail and flange lubricator comprising, in combination: a lubricant reservoir of dimensions to be received between adjacent ties of a railroad track and having an upper wall provided with an opening; means to mount said reservoir between such ties with said upper wall substantially flush with the upper surface thereof; a force pump mounted upon the upper wall of said reservoir and having an intake conduit passing through said opening to draw from said reservoir; an operating lever for said pump comprising a treadle to be situated within the path of movement of flanges of a wheel moving upon said track, said lever carrying a conduit acting as the outlet from said pump to deliver lubricant to the head of a rail of the track.

CHARLES A. MILLER. 

